Providing scientific stimulation to fully activate the public's interest in immunology, human health, and disease...one research study at a time.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Blogging Scholarship: On the importance of science research blogs and how YOU can vote to support students who blog about science!

"The academic research and teaching communities for science and related fields need to see blogging as more than a casual hobby, as core outreach for their science. It is an effective way for scientists to counter the misunderstandings, deliberate and otherwise, of popular culture...In this way, we can ensure that the quality of the science that is communicated to the public is high, while the personality of working scientists humanizes science."-John S. Wilkins "The roles, reasons and restrictions of science blogs." (2008).

I started Escaping Anergy because as a PhD Immunology student I wanted to get the public psyched up about the amazing role basic research plays in improving human health! Whether you have supported this blog since its beginning or if you recently stumbled across I hope you find this blog to be a unique place on the web where scientists and the public can discuss research and its impacts together.Your support and interest in Escaping Anergy is what motivated me to apply for a $10,000 scholarship for full-time students who blog and...

I JUST found outI was selected as a FINALIST! However, the winner will be chosen by the online community. Because my blog is still in its infancy, my chances of winning this scholarship are STRONGLY DEPENDENT on the great support of my family, friends and fellow science enthusiasts!

Some of the other finalists have been blogging longer than I have and may have more followers on their blogs, so your vote is vital to my chances of winning! NOTE: You can only vote once per device, therefore feel free to vote using your work, home computer(s) AND smart phones! Voting ends November 23rd.

" Although I have taught
microbiology and immunology to hundreds of undergrads and launched two
newsletters that are distributed throughout my department to foster
interdisciplinary communication, I yearned to discuss interesting research
discoveries with the public at large. I continue to believe that blogging provides
me with the unique opportunity to do exactly that, while giving me a forum to
improve my writing skills. I soon began thinking of what kind of blog I would be proud
to write. As an immunologist, I have noticed that although there are ample blogs,
news columns, and television programs conveying general science and health
issues, there wasn’t any public space devoted to discussing basic immunological
research. To fill this important niche, I launched “Escaping Anergy: The
Immunology Research Blog”. Anergy is an immunology term describing the state in
which a T cell is inadequately stimulated and unable to actively participate in
the immune response. Because of this, the anergic T cell is doomed to wander
throughout the body quietly, doing essentially nothing. So how do individuals,
like T cells, become active and prepared to take on whatever health challenges
comes their way? The answer lies in the fundamental basis of my blog: to
provide a second signal called co-stimulation. Co-stimulation refers to the
guiding signal that T cells must receive to strengthen their ability to do all
the things a powerful, active T cell can do. The purpose of my blog is to help
reverse the process of anergy in our community by getting us psyched up about
the biology behind human health issues so that we can become active members of
society and engaged in furthering scientific discovery. I began this blog out of my genuine interest in both
research and science communication. Although still in its infancy, I feel
empowered with every new visitor who reads my blog, and I believe it is
succeeding as I have received much praise from the online community for my
in-depth analysis of the latest research articles in the fields of immunology,
human health, and disease. I strongly believe that my experience as a blogger
has strengthened my career, my research, my quality of teaching, and perhaps
most importantly, my confidence in my ability to achieve my ultimate goals. I
would be truly honored to receive this award and believe that it will provide
me with significant resources to help publish my research findings, travel to
conferences, attend writing seminars, and ultimately enrich my communication
skills within both the scientific and public communities."

I hope you will help advocate science communication and can help spread the word!

Congratulations Heather on being selected as a finalist! Even if you don't win the grand prize, I think the greater prize is that this must have spawned a great deal of attention for your blog. I know that in my own circle of internet connections I have already seen links to your blog posted from at least 3 independent sources.

@Kevin, thanks for your vote!! Please help to continue to spread the word and thanks again for your support!!

Thank you @thesensitivescientist for your constant support and encouragement! This is a very exciting opportunity and am glad there are so many people interested in learning more about basic research and how it impacts our lives! Thanks again!

an·er·gy (noun) \ˈa-(ˌ)nər-jē\

Anergy: A state of immune unresponsiveness. Induced when the T cell's antigen receptor is stimulated, effectively freezing T cell responses pending a "second signal" from the antigen-presenting cell. The delivery of the second signal by the antigen-presenting cell rescues the activated T cell from anergy, allowing it to produce the lymphokines necessary for the growth of additional T cells.

The purpose of this blog is two-fold...

1) To fill an important scientific niche by providing a space to educate and discuss the latest published research with the interested public. The exciting data discussed here enhances our understanding of disease progression and plays a significant role in the development of new treatments for individuals suffering from immunological illnesses and infections!

2) To serve as an outlet for another passion of mine: scientific writing. Because of this, I truly appreciate any feedback, comments and suggestions regarding the style, clarity, explanation and research presented. After all, the advancement of science is a collaborative effort!

About Me

I am currently a 5th year Immunology PhD student equally interested in laboratory research AND science communication. My research foci includes: host-pathogen interactions, monocyte/macrophage activation and innate immune response during inflammation, but when I'm not at the bench or reading the latest published immunology papers, you can find me writing, teaching (Immunology;Microbiology), running, playing soccer, brewing beer and going to concerts to find new music to love!
Comments to this blog regarding anything science/health/immunology/education related are highly encouraged!